Read Online Freedom Does Matter (Mercenaries Book 2) by Tony Lavely - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tony Lavely
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the time you get there. And I did want to talk to Haleef again…”
“Dan can probably get a car… Wait. this is a tourist spot, right? I’ll bet they have taxis or car rentals here. I can just drive back, if you’re okay with going back alone to pack up and then drive to Cairo?”
“I can do that. ‘Course, it means driving into the sun again…” She grinned at his look of disbelief. “Anyway, since daylight is better than night for driving, let’s call Sue and tell her the plan.”
However, Kevin still wanted to see the grave; they entered the cemetery and he looked on the memorial for directions while Beckie walked first to the Statue of Remembrance, and then to the back wall to gaze up at the Cross of Sacrifice. She turned and gave the whole cemetery her attention. She’d seen pictures, as everyone had, of Arlington, and Normandy, and this, this was more moving for her. Maybe ‘cause I’m here. The green grass was tan sand, but there were shrubs and trees scattered throughout. Unlike Arlington, the markers were simple plaques rather than crosses. The ones she could see had name and organization along with a few words.
Kevin had come out of the cloisters at the entrance and was striding along a row of markers to Beckie’s right. She hurried up the central pathway and followed him, several paces behind. He stopped in a plot near the wall. Before a marker, he stopped to read it, then dropped to one knee and folded his hands. Beckie bowed her head.
After a minute, Kevin rose and looked around. When he was beside her again, he said, “You never get used to seeing all these graves.”
She had no words for him; she took his hand and squeezed.
Outside the memorial, he called Sue. In a few more minutes, he’d dissuaded her from attempting the three hour drive to meet him… “Unless we can’t find any other way to do it,” he said in appeasement. Very shortly later, they’d discovered no rental cars, and an hour later, they’d contracted—bribed, Beckie thought—an employee at the nearby Marina to find a taxi. He had and the driver accepted Kevin’s no-haggle offer, which, as Beckie discovered later, was only twice the going rate.
Beckie was headed back to the resort, sun in her eyes. She’d missed the battlefield, but decided the depictions in the museum would suffice.
By five-thirty, she was in her room, collecting the few things she had to pack. A trip to Kevin’s room proved he had less to pack than she. She had loaded the Jeep by seven; as she headed toward the restaurant, one of the desk clerks stopped her. His twitchiness and quavering voice telegraphed his nervousness. “Why are you still here? Everyone has been told to go to Alexandria.”
The man’s quick, shallow breathing did nothing to relax her. Maybe that’s what those three big busses were doing. Taking the guests back to Alexandria. “I was out until a little while ago. I heard nothing. What’s going on?”
“There are… rumors of military activity beyond Mersa Matruh. It may have to do with the holiday… Revolution Day, I think is how you would know it. The owners of the resort have moved the guests for their safety. Many of the staff is also departed.”
Beckie shuffled her feet, then pulled her hair around to hang over her shoulder. “Well, I’m not planning to try and drive to Cairo tonight. My brief experience with drivers here…”
The man nodded. “I have not driven elsewhere, but I agree, our drivers are…”
Beckie wanted to say insane to finish his statement, but held her tongue. He didn’t find the words, either, she guessed; he just allowed it to trail off. “It is no matter.” He shot a quick glance at the clock behind the counter. “From eighteen hours, the authorities require no one to leave. There are servers still in the Beach Grill, and they can find a dinner for you.” He waved toward the opening through which she could see the sea.
“When will I be able to leave?”
“They
“Dan can probably get a car… Wait. this is a tourist spot, right? I’ll bet they have taxis or car rentals here. I can just drive back, if you’re okay with going back alone to pack up and then drive to Cairo?”
“I can do that. ‘Course, it means driving into the sun again…” She grinned at his look of disbelief. “Anyway, since daylight is better than night for driving, let’s call Sue and tell her the plan.”
However, Kevin still wanted to see the grave; they entered the cemetery and he looked on the memorial for directions while Beckie walked first to the Statue of Remembrance, and then to the back wall to gaze up at the Cross of Sacrifice. She turned and gave the whole cemetery her attention. She’d seen pictures, as everyone had, of Arlington, and Normandy, and this, this was more moving for her. Maybe ‘cause I’m here. The green grass was tan sand, but there were shrubs and trees scattered throughout. Unlike Arlington, the markers were simple plaques rather than crosses. The ones she could see had name and organization along with a few words.
Kevin had come out of the cloisters at the entrance and was striding along a row of markers to Beckie’s right. She hurried up the central pathway and followed him, several paces behind. He stopped in a plot near the wall. Before a marker, he stopped to read it, then dropped to one knee and folded his hands. Beckie bowed her head.
After a minute, Kevin rose and looked around. When he was beside her again, he said, “You never get used to seeing all these graves.”
She had no words for him; she took his hand and squeezed.
Outside the memorial, he called Sue. In a few more minutes, he’d dissuaded her from attempting the three hour drive to meet him… “Unless we can’t find any other way to do it,” he said in appeasement. Very shortly later, they’d discovered no rental cars, and an hour later, they’d contracted—bribed, Beckie thought—an employee at the nearby Marina to find a taxi. He had and the driver accepted Kevin’s no-haggle offer, which, as Beckie discovered later, was only twice the going rate.
Beckie was headed back to the resort, sun in her eyes. She’d missed the battlefield, but decided the depictions in the museum would suffice.
By five-thirty, she was in her room, collecting the few things she had to pack. A trip to Kevin’s room proved he had less to pack than she. She had loaded the Jeep by seven; as she headed toward the restaurant, one of the desk clerks stopped her. His twitchiness and quavering voice telegraphed his nervousness. “Why are you still here? Everyone has been told to go to Alexandria.”
The man’s quick, shallow breathing did nothing to relax her. Maybe that’s what those three big busses were doing. Taking the guests back to Alexandria. “I was out until a little while ago. I heard nothing. What’s going on?”
“There are… rumors of military activity beyond Mersa Matruh. It may have to do with the holiday… Revolution Day, I think is how you would know it. The owners of the resort have moved the guests for their safety. Many of the staff is also departed.”
Beckie shuffled her feet, then pulled her hair around to hang over her shoulder. “Well, I’m not planning to try and drive to Cairo tonight. My brief experience with drivers here…”
The man nodded. “I have not driven elsewhere, but I agree, our drivers are…”
Beckie wanted to say insane to finish his statement, but held her tongue. He didn’t find the words, either, she guessed; he just allowed it to trail off. “It is no matter.” He shot a quick glance at the clock behind the counter. “From eighteen hours, the authorities require no one to leave. There are servers still in the Beach Grill, and they can find a dinner for you.” He waved toward the opening through which she could see the sea.
“When will I be able to leave?”
“They
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